Olympic Break Begins, But Hockey Action Doesn’t Slow Down
While the Boston Bruins enjoy a well-earned pause for the Olympic break, the rest of the hockey world is anything but quiet. From a brawl-filled Battle of Florida to a breakout NHL debut in Buffalo, Thursday night wrapped up the NHL schedule with fireworks before the league-wide pause. Meanwhile, the Olympic torch is officially lit in Milan, and hockey fans are getting a taste of international competition with plenty more on the way.
Let’s dive into what’s happening across the hockey landscape.
Bruins on Break, Pastrnak Leads in Milan
The Bruins are officially off the ice, and per league rules, they won’t be back in practice until February 17, with games resuming on February 25. Some players are taking the time to rest, while others are representing their countries on the world stage.
David Pastrnak is front and center in Milan, named a flag bearer for Team Czechia in today’s Opening Ceremony. It’s a proud moment for Pastrnak and Bruins fans alike, as one of Boston’s brightest stars gets the honor of leading his national team into the Games. The ceremony begins at 2:00 PM ET and will be rebroadcast at 8:00 PM on NBC.
Back home, the Bruins’ prospect pipeline is still active. The Beanpot tournament is heating up, with participating teams in action tonight ahead of Monday’s games at TD Garden. The Providence Bruins hit the road for a matchup against Hartford at 7:05 PM.
Several Bruins college prospects are also suiting up tonight:
- Quinnipiac vs. Brown - 7:00 PM ET, Hamden, CT
- Boston University vs. Maine - 7:00 PM ET, Boston, MA
- Harvard vs. Dartmouth - 7:00 PM ET, Boston, MA
- Minnesota vs. Ohio State - 7:00 PM ET, Minneapolis, MN
- Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan - 7:05 PM ET, Oxford, OH
- Cornell vs. Colgate - 7:30 PM ET, Hamilton, NY
And for those keeping an eye on junior hockey:
- QMJHL: Shawinigan vs. Rimouski - 7:00 PM ET
- USHL: Youngstown vs. Lincoln - 7:05 PM ET
For a deeper dive into how these prospects are performing, check out the latest edition of the Prospects Notebook.
Battle of Florida Ends with a Bang
If Thursday night’s Panthers-Lightning clash was meant to be a send-off to the NHL schedule before the Olympic break, it certainly left an impression. Tampa Bay rolled to a 6-1 win, but the real story was the chaos that unfolded in the third period.
A staggering 147 penalty minutes were handed out, with 104 of them coming at the 4:06 mark of the third. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was ejected, and the benches nearly emptied as tempers boiled over.
This wasn’t an isolated incident either. Across seven meetings this season (including preseason), the two Florida rivals have combined for 793 penalty minutes - Tampa Bay with 479, Florida with 314. Safe to say, this rivalry is alive, well, and as heated as ever.
Rookie Spotlight: Avery Hayes Shines in NHL Debut
Pittsburgh has a new name to watch. Avery Hayes, 23, made his NHL debut last night and wasted no time making an impact. Hayes scored twice in the first period to help lift the Penguins to a 5-2 win over the Sabres.
He wasn’t alone in the rookie spotlight - Ben Kindel also added two goals for Pittsburgh, giving the Penguins a jolt of young energy heading into the break. The locker room was buzzing postgame, and rightfully so - it’s not every day two rookies combine for four goals in their debut.
Brandon Bussi’s Storybook Start Continues
In Carolina, Brandon Bussi continues to write one of the more compelling stories of the season. The Hurricanes netminder posted a shutout against the New York Rangers, improving to 23-3-1 with a 2.16 GAA and .908 save percentage.
What made the moment even more special? Bussi grew up idolizing Henrik Lundqvist, and after the game, the former Rangers legend was waiting outside the Hurricanes locker room to congratulate the rookie. A full-circle moment if there ever was one.
Golden Knights Enter Break on a High Note
The final game before the break saw the Golden Knights take down the Kings, giving Vegas its second straight win after a five-game skid. That’s a big momentum swing for the Pacific Division leaders, who now sit at 27-16-14 heading into the Olympic pause.
USA Women Roll in Olympic Opener
Team USA’s women’s squad kicked off their Olympic campaign with a 5-1 win over Czechia. Alex Carpenter, a North Reading, MA native, opened the scoring off a feed from Megan Keller, captain of the Boston Fleet. The Americans dominated the shot count 42-14, setting the tone early in the tournament.
Team Canada Shuffles Roster Due to Injury
Brayden Point will not be heading to Milan after all. The Lightning forward, sidelined since January 12, was ruled out due to injury.
He has 30 points in 37 games this season. Replacing him on Team Canada is Seth Jarvis of the Hurricanes, who’s having a strong campaign with 43 points in 48 games.
Canada also made a swap on the men’s side, exchanging one Four Nations player for another due to injury.
Trade Talk: Andersson, Kings, and More
Rasmus Andersson opened up about his move to Vegas, revealing that he first heard about trade discussions while attending his best friend’s wedding last summer. The Bruins were reportedly in the mix, offering a seven-year deal, but Andersson wasn’t sold - citing concerns over trade protection and a lack of follow-up communication.
Meanwhile, the Kings are still looking to make moves. According to reports, their interest goes beyond Artemi Panarin, with names like Jonathan Toews and Alex Tuch being floated as potential targets ahead of the trade deadline.
Panarin, for what it’s worth, requested to wear No. 72 in L.A. - a number not currently assigned to any player, but already claimed by the team’s mascot. The request was denied.
Draft Pick Protection Update
A quick note on the Seth Jones trade: The 2026 first-round pick involved is top-10 protected. If the Panthers miss the playoffs and land inside the top 10, they’ll keep the pick. As of now, Florida holds a 3.5% chance of winning the Draft Lottery.
Today’s Olympic Hockey Schedule (ET)
- 6:10 AM: Germany vs. Japan (Peacock)
- 8:40 AM: Sweden vs. Italy (Peacock)
- 10:40 AM: USA vs. Finland (USA Network)
- 3:10 PM: Switzerland vs. Canada (USA Network)
The NHL might be on pause, but the hockey world is anything but quiet. From Olympic showdowns to prospect performances and trade deadline buzz, there’s plenty to keep fans locked in. And with Sunday’s big football game just around the corner, this weekend is shaping up to be a sports fan’s dream.